What it's like to live in Cedar Hill
Cedar Hill is a small city in Texas with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Cedar Hill deals with rent well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Cedar Hill compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Cedar Hill
Based on Cedar Hill's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,986
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $79,720 a year
- 61% of Cedar Hill renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$60,540
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $30,270
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 41% above US
$1,993/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,993 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $302,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $302,700 · 61% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 19% above US
5.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 53% below US
155 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1716/100k · Cedar Hill Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 21% above US
31 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.4 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 17% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 95°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 35°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Waco Mammoth National Monument (69 miles away).
Bottom line
Cedar Hill's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,993/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and remote workers (17% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Cedar Hill
All Texas guides →Moving to Duncanville →
5 mi away · pop. 39,683
Rent $1,630/mo · Income $76,457
Compare with Cedar Hill →Moving to Glenn Heights →
6 mi away · pop. 18,096
Rent $1,675/mo · Income $81,718
Compare with Cedar Hill →Moving to Grand Prairie →
8 mi away · pop. 201,883
Rent $1,629/mo · Income $81,619
Compare with Cedar Hill →Not sure Cedar Hill is the one?
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